# Strauss, Don Juan, Op. 20

The most-asked orchestra audition excerpt for cello, a heroic, virtuoso opening that demands speed, precision, and bravura.

## About the excerpt

- **Composer:** Richard Strauss

- **Work:** Don Juan, Op. 20

- **Movement:** Allegro molto con brio

- **Era:** Late-Romantic (c. 1880–1910)

- **Composed:** 1888

- **Key:** E

- **Metre:** 2/2

- **Tempo:** Allegro molto con brio approximately 84 BPM

- **Clef:** Tenor clef

- **Difficulty:** Audition

- **Audition list:** Standard excerpt

## Bowing

Whole bow on the marcato eighth, then off-string for the running figure.

## Fingering

Plan every shift. The opening leap to E4 must be in tune cold, start with that note in your ear.

## Where it goes wrong

The biggest excerpt killer, practice with metronome at half tempo until secure, then build up.

## Style

Bravura, swagger, Don Juan himself. Don't play it safe.

## Techniques

tone-poem, audition, bravura, tenor-clef, fast

## Score reference

[IMSLP reference](https://imslp.org/wiki/Don_Juan,_Op.20_(Strauss,_Richard))

This public reference contains work information and original practice notes. It does not publish the excerpt notation or grant permission to copy a score. Score access and rights depend on the edition and jurisdiction.

## Related excerpts

- [Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, hero theme](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/strauss-heldenleben), The hero's grand, expansive theme. Cellos and horns surge upward over three octaves. Audition; Late-Romantic; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Strauss: Death and Transfiguration, apotheosis](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/strauss-death-transfig), The transcendent C major apotheosis, cellos sing the transfiguration theme over shimmering strings. Intermediate; Late-Romantic; Tenor clef.
- [Elgar: Cello Concerto, I, opening](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/elgar-concerto-i), One of the most iconic openings in the cello repertoire, a wrenching recitative ascending across all four strings. Audition; Late-Romantic; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations, theme](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/tchaik-rococo), Tchaikovsky's tribute to the classical era. Pure, transparent, devilishly hard to play with simplicity. Advanced; Late-Romantic; Tenor clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Mahler: Symphony No. 2, V, cello/bass recit.](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/mahler-2-v), A free cello/bass recitative, every player must phrase as a soloist within the section. Advanced; Late-Romantic; Bass clef. Standard audition excerpt.
- [Bruch: Kol Nidrei](https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/bruch-kol-nidrei), Bruch's setting of the Yom Kippur prayer for cello and orchestra. Deeply expressive cantorial line. Advanced; Late-Romantic; Bass clef.

Canonical source: https://arcosounds.com/repertoire/cello/strauss-don-juan